"As an Indonesian, I found it easy to live in Leiden because the Indonesian community is quite big."

Vienna, Austria
2015-2016: Master in Politics, Society, and Economy of Asia/Asian Studies

Why I chose Leiden University

Leiden has a strong historical connection with Indonesia since before its independence. Many of the founding fathers studied in Leiden. And internationally Leiden University has first-class recognition among both academics and politicians. 

What I'm doing now

At the moment, I am an intern at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Technical Cooperation (TC) Division.

My Leiden experiences

I believe I made the right decision by coming to Leiden. The city suits me intellectually and culturally. As an Indonesian, I found it easy to live in Leiden because the Indonesian community is quite big. I didn't experience any difficulties in adapting my first time living abroad. Regarding academics, the discussion inside the classroom is always intriguing, and the professors are really experts in their field. I found many books and materials which I couldn't get access back in Jakarta. The academic resources of Indonesian studies in Leiden University are indeed extremely rich in the sense that it provides both the old and modern resources.

My reasons to become a Leiden Ambassador

As an alumn, I would like to encourage my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to study in Leiden, to experience all the benefits Leiden can offer. Moreover, I would also be happy to make Leiden becoming more widely known through the contributions of its alumni.